Show how the piece of text is

PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT

LANGUAGE ANALYSIS
10 minutes planning.
50-55 minutes writing.
designed to have an impact on the
audience through its structure and
TO ANALYSE
approach, and through particular
word choices and visual features It is simply impossible to analyse every single technique the writer
uses in their article. Therefore pick the words/phrases that you find
most persuasive

CCTAP
IF YOUR PIECES ➤ Context
INCLUDE A GRAPHIC, ➤ Contention
YOU MUST ➤ Tone
ACKNOWLEDGE IT IN ➤ Audience
YOUR ➤ Purpose
INTRODUCTION

CONTEXT
DATE ETHOS ARGUMENTS ARE ABOUT CREDIBILITY.
FORM The contention is the broadest
possible statement, and should be
AUTHOR present throughout the whole of the
PATHOS ARGUMENTS TARGET THE EMOTION OF THE READER.
SOURCE text. All of the arguments presented
TITLE in the text will support the overall LOGOS ARGUMENTS AIM TO ADDRESS THE INTELLECTUAL
CD, FAST CAT CONTENTION contention. ASPECTS OF THE ISSUE, AND WILL OFTEN HAVE STATISTICS
OR LOGIC BACKING THEM UP.
AUDIENCE
TONE
 ASK YOURSELF THE COMMON AUDIENCES
FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: Specific people (those particularly interested in a certain topic):
parents, sports fans, animal rights activists, environmentalists
Specific age groups: elderly, Gen Y, teenagers, university students
• What kinds of readers might be influenced by this piece? Why? Specific magazine readers: Time magazine, The Australian
• What kinds of readers might resist or challenge the idea in this piece? Why?
• Is there more than one type of reader who might be interested in this article?
A strong Language Analysis essay should identify multiple audiences.
DO NOT REITERATE WHAT
THE WRITER IS SAYING
The writer states that creating a community garden will make people
“healthier and happier”
What to write instead: The words “healthier and happier” suggest
that creating a community garden will improve the lifestyles of citizens.
DON’T OVERTHINK IT.
A LOT OF WHAT YOU’RE READING CAN
BE TRANSLATED INTO A PERSUASIVE
TECHNIQUE THAT YOU’VE PERSONALLY
USED.
TONES
IF THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A
SPECIFIC TONE, THEN SAY IT.
YOU’RE YEAR 12 STUDENTS NOW, YOU CAN DO BETTER
AND CHOOSE WISER WORDS WHEN DESCRIBING
TONES. THIS HELPS YOU ACHIEVE SPECIFICITY.
ANALYSE THE LANGUAGE
NOT THE TECHNIQUE
The pun “A new cycle” in the headline is humorous and therefore
captures the attention of the reader.
What to write instead: The pun “A new cycle” draws a direct link
between cycling and advancement in society urging readers to view
cycling in a positive light.
HELP!!
“You are my smartest friend, can you help me? I’m really stuck on this
language analysis essay.”
What is the technique? - compliment
What readers may think (thoughts) - feeling proud and as a result want to assist your friend
What readers may feel (emotions) - prideful, happy, pleased
What readers may want (wishes) - to return the favour and assist your friend
SIMPLE AND SPECIFIC TRY THIS ONE TOGETHER

‘The emotive language, ‘how dare you’, provokes readers to feel as

though they are in the wrong, and as a result, urge them to
reconsider their position on the issue.’
WHAT ABOUT
‘The school was invaded by the crackpot idea to ban end of year
celebrations for Year 12 students at Swinburne Senior Secondary College.’ GRAPHICS/
Use clean and concise writing that delivers the intended message.
VISUALS?

SAMPLE PHRASES
• The author attempts to persuade the reader by…
• The author uses…in an effort to gain reader support
• By incorporating…the writer aims to…
DON’TS:
• Express your opinion on how persuasive the piece is (this is not part of the criteria!)

• The author urges support by… • State that the author uses ‘many language techniques’ and proceed to list them.
• Summarise the author’s most commonly used techniques.
• The reader is positioned to respond… NEVER start your conclusions with:
• The author asserts that…
 “In conclusion.”
• In order to demonstrate to readers…
• Through illustrating to readers that…
• Reader support may be gained by…
DO’S:
• Keep your conclusion short and sweet - only a couple of sentences is key.
• The use of…encourages readers to believe… • Summarise the author’s contention

• The author’s understanding of…is used in an effort to coerce readers to… • Summarise the end of the articles and how the audience feels after reading it

• By stating that…the author seeks agreement from readers…